Jean Pascal and Bernard Hopkins got into a bit of a physical altercation during a pre-fight press conference today. Pascal ended the press conference by not-so-politely asking Hopkins to take a blood test before their fight in May. Hopkins commendable response? "Aw, hell no."
Pascal says the press-conference fight was personal between the two boxers — and, as it turns out, his fellow Quebecers — so there's no way this was the usual pre-fight show! After the press conference, he told reporters:
Bernard doesn't like me, and that's fine because I hate him... I'm telling you, it's personal because Bernard Hopkins disrespected Quebecers by saying the people of Quebec are little people, that Quebec City is a village.
Talk about vitriol. When Hopkins (51-5-2, 32 KOs) and Pascal (26-1-1, 16 KOs) last fought in December, they drew, although most agreed that Hopkins should have won — including Hopkins himself. The Quebecers will welcome the 46-year-old Hopkins as he attempts to become "the oldest man ever to hold a major boxing championship" at their rematch in Montreal on May 21. Quelle dramatique.